AU669793B2

AU669793B2 - Adjustable sliding door closer

Info

Publication number: AU669793B2
Application number: AU63197/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Brian Alchin
Original assignee: Alchin and Long Group Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Alchin and Long Group Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-08
Filing date: 1994-05-18
Publication date: 1996-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-18
Also published as: AU6319794A

Description

S F Ref: 272490

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

0 Name and Address of Applicant: Alchin Long Group Pty 46-48 Redfern Street Wetherill Park New South

AUSTRALIA

Ltd t/as Doric Products Wales 2164 Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL [31] Application No(s) PL9257 Michael Brian Alchin Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Adjustable Sliding Door Closer r APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[32 Application Date 8 June 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815/3

I

ADJUSTABLE SLIDING DOOR CLOSER Field of the Invention The following invention relates to an adjustable sliding door or window closer.

More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a spring loaded closing device for sliding doors having a means of adjusting the force applied by the mechanism to the door so as to accommodate different types of doors.

Certain sliding doors can be relatively light and easy to slide whereas others may be heavy and more friction must be overcome in order to slide the door.

Spring loaded sliding door closing mechanisms are known. However, such devices are provided with a spring of preselected spring constant and thus are not entirely applicable for a wide range of sliding doors. More particularly, where a heavy door requires closing, the standard spring constant in known closing mechanisms may be insufficient to move the door against friction. On the other hand, with a relatively lightweight door, the spring may be too forceful, resulting in undesirable slamming of the door.

Object of the Invention 4e O t It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage and/or more generally to provide an adjustable sliding door/window closing mechanism.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed herein a closing mechanism a for a door or window, which door or window is slidably mounted within a door or window jamb, the closing mechanism comprising: a fixture to be attached to the jamb or door/window and having a major longitudinal axis to extend generally parallel to the direction of movement of the S"door/window relative to the jamb, a tubular member to be attached at one end to the other of the door/window or jamb and telescopically associated with the fixture along said major axis, an elastic member passing along the tubular element and having one end attached to the fixture, and tension adjustment means to connect said elastic member, at a point remote from said one end thereof, to said other of the tubular member.

0 [N:\LIBTT 46:hw (N:ALIDTTIO846:hrwv

I

There is further disclosed herein a closing mechanism a door or window, the door or window being slidably mounted within an associated door or window jamb, the closing mechanism comprising: an elongated hollow fixture which in use is to be attached to the window/door or jamb so that it has its longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the door/window; a tubular member telescopically associated with the fixture and in use extending therefrom to be attached to the other of the door/windJw or jamb; an elongated elastic member having opposite first and second ends and extending longitudinally of the tubular member, said elastic member having its first end attached to said fixture and extending therefrom into tubular member; and tension adjustment means attaching the second end of said elastic member to said tubular member at a position remote from said first end, so that in use relative movement between the door/window and the associated jamb causes telescopic relative 15 movement between the tubular member and the fixture and a change in length of the elastic member.

r a o s a e r .rl (N:\LIBfl100846:hrw -3- Preferably, the tension adjustment means comprises a chain secured to the other end of the elastic member and means to affix a selected link of the chain relative to said one end of the tubular member.

Preferably, an adjustment cap is provided at said one end of the tubular member having a slot therein within and by which the selected chain link may be fixed.

Preferably, the elastic member is a spring.

Preferably, the fixture is a housing through which the tubular member and elastic member pass.

Definition As used herein, the term "jamb" is intended to mean any fixed part surrounding a door or window, and preferably, the upper, horizontal head or track above a sliding door or window.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view of an adjustable sliding door closer, S..Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the closer mechanism of 20 Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of one end of the closer mechanism fixed to a vertical member of a sliding door or window, and Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the closer mechanism of Fig. 3 in a closed position and having a cosmetic cover plate in place.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a door closer 10. Closer 10 comprises a hollow tubk'oll which may be of extruded metallic material or formed from plastics material. Tube 11 is telescopically mounted within a housing 17 which is typically formed as 30 an aluminiumn extrusion. However, any suitable material such as moulded plastics for example may'"be adopted. Located within the l-ube 11 is a tensionable coi.-spring 12 secured by a pin 18 which passes through spring e-r~d21l to a fixing block 23.

Fixing block 23 is to be secured by screws through the holes to a horizontal member of a door jamb, typically at the head of the door.

Alternatively, the housing 17 might be secured to a horizontal sliding member of a door or window.

STA/04421 -4 The other end 21 of spring 12 is secured to a chain 14. Chain 14 passes through an end cap 19 which is associated with tube 11 by a fitting 15 affixed thereto. Fitting 15 comprises a neck portion having a slot 28 therein. To be received within slot 28 is a boss 29 forming part of a pick-up block 26 to be secured to a vertical member 25 of a sliding door. Alternatively, in the case where the housing 17 is affixed to the sliding door, the pick-up block 26 may be provided on a fixed part of the door jamb. The slot 28 serves as a means of accommodating any inaccuracies in the mounting of pick-up block 26 upon door frame In order to properly secure the housing 17 to the door jamb 30, a pair of fixing blocks 22 and 23 are provided. Each fixing block 22, 23 comprises protrusive parts 31 which extend into respective ends of the housing 17.

In order to adjust the tension of the spring 12, the chain 14 is manually withdrawn from the end of the tube 11 thus bringing end cap 19 away from the closer neck 15. The adjustment cap 19 may then be removed from a particular link of the chain and reattached to the chain at any Slink by sliding slot 32 thereover. Withdrawing more chain links from the tubular element will increase the tension on spring 12, whereas 20 retracting more chain links will reduce the spring tension. Upon releasing tension, the spring will pull adjustment cap 19 back against closer neck 15. Any remaining links of the chain may be located in a compartment provided behind neck cover 27.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, rather than the provision of a o chain, a simple cord might be provided. Alternatively, any other means of adjusting the spring tension may be adopted. Furthermore, the spring might be replaced by a strip of elastic material.

STA/04421

Claims

2. The closing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the tension adjustment means comprises a chain secured to the other end of the elastic member and means to affix a selected link of the chain relative to said one end of the tubular member.
3. The closing mechanism of claim 2 further comprising an adjustment cap at one end of the tubular member having a slot therein within and by which the selected chain link may be fixed.
4. The closing mechanism of any one of the preceding claims wherein the elastic member is a spring.
5. The closing mechanism of any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixture is a housing through which the tubular member and elastic member pass.
6. A closing mechanism for a door or window, the door or window being slidably mounted within an associated door or window jamb, the closing mechanism comprising: an elongated hollow fixture which in use is to be attached to the window/door or jamb so that it has its longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the door/window'relative to the jamb; a tubular member telescopically associated with the fixture and in use extending therefrom to be attached to the other of the door/window or jamb; an elongated elastic member having opposite first and second ends and extending longitudinally of the tubular member, said elastic member having its first end attached to said fixture and extending therefrom into tubular member; and tension adjustment means attaching the second end of said elastic member to said tubular member at a position remote from said first end, so that in use relative movement between the door/window and the associated jamb causes telescopic relative movement between the tubular member and the fixture and a change in length of the elastic member. IN:\LIBTT00846:hrw
7. T' he closing mechanism of claim 6 wherein said tension adjustment means comprises an elongated part extending from and attached to the second end of said elastic member and a securing member to attach the elongated part to an end of said tubular member remote from said first end, said securing member and said elongated part cooperating so that said securing member can engage said elongated part at a selected position along the length of the elongated part.
8. The closing mechanism of claim 7, wherein the securing member is a slotted cap attached to the tubular member and said elongated part is a chain having a plurality of links with the cap being adapted to engage a selected one of the links to tension the elastic member.
9. The closing mechanism of claim 7 or 8 further including a fitting to attach the tubular member to the door/window or jamb, with said securing member being adapted to engage the fitting. The closing mechanism of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the elastic member is a spring.
11. A closing mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with *reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A door and door jamb, or a window and window jamb having affixed thereto the closing mechanism of any one of the preceding claims. Dated 17 April 1996 Alchin Long Group Pty Ltd t/as Doric Products Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 0 ooo.oo lN:\LIBTTI00846:hrW ADJUSTABLE SLIDING DOOR CLOSER ABSTRACT A door closer (10) comprises a hollow tube (11) which is telescopically mounted within a housing A tensionable coil spring (12) is located within tube (11) and secured by a pin (18) to a fixing block Fixing block (23) is to be secured to a horizontal member of a door jamb, typically at the head of the door. To the other end 21 of spring (12) is secured a chain Chain (14) passes through an end cap (19) which is attached to tube (11) by a fitting Fitting comprises a neck portion having a slot (28) therein. In order to adjust the tension of the spring the chain (14) is manually withdrawn from the end of the tube (11) thus bring end cap (19) away from the neck The adjustment cap (19) may then be removed from a particular link of the chain and reattached to the chain at any other length by sliding slot (32) thereover. Fig. 1 STA/04421